Road commissioners approve financing for eight Western Star trucks

The Chippewa County Road Commission voted Feb. 27 to award financing for eight Western Star trucks to 1st National Bank of St. Ignace, selecting the bank’s bid for its lack of origination fee, absence of early‑payoff penalties and a lower interest rate than competing local offers. Manager Laitinen presented a comparison of bids from Huntington Bank, Central Savings Bank and 1st National and recommended the latter. "1st National offered terms with no origination fee, no fee for early payoff, and a rate lower than Central Savings," Laitinen said.

Commissioner Moser moved to accept the recommendation and Chairman Jeremy Gagnon seconded; the motion carried. The commission authorized financing from the County Road Fund subject to audit. Fleet Manager Donajkowski reported that the new Western Star trucks already delivered will arrive in full by the end of April but said upfitting in the shop could not begin until November. "The truck order should be delivered in full by the end of April. The earliest the trucks can get into the shop for upfitting is November," Donajkowski said.

Manager Laitinen told commissioners the locally offered terms varied: Huntington’s bid had the best rate but required annual payments with no early‑payoff option; Central Savings included an origination fee and tiered early‑payoff penalties. Laitinen also said USDA program terms would not be compatible with the chosen local bids. The motion to award financing to 1st National Bank of St. Ignace was made by Commissioner Moser, seconded by Chairman Gagnon and carried.

The action clears the financing step; the commission did not discuss specific repayment schedule details in the meeting record. Next procedural steps are financing document completion and continued fleet upfitting planning.